Folding chair



J. J. CROFT FOLDING CHAIR March 8, 1938,

Filed May 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm mam f,

L flaw v (7 5343 March s, 1938. ,1, J, CROFT 2,110,519

FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L M 1195 ciahn 7;Cryfi,

- l91% W 1 HH UQHIIWHIIHMH 5 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFEQE FOLDING CHAIR Application May 18,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and the primary object thereofis to provide simplified means for securely and positively retaining thechair both in operative and folded positions, against accidentalmovement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair of this typewhich can be economically manufactured; which embodies a minimum ofparts, and one wherein the folding and unfolding operations may beeasily and quickly performed.

The invention has still further and other objects which will be laterset forth. and manifested in the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of the in-- vention, in operativeposition;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the invention in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the guide and wear plate. Y

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention, a back I isprovided having legs 2; a seat 3 being pivoted to the back by means ofbrackets 4. Front legs 5 are pivotally connected to the seat by means ofbrackets 9. The seat is provided on its under side face with side railsor members 1, which latter have longitudinal grooves 8 formed on theirconfronting or inner side faces. The grooves 8 have right angular endportions 9 which extend toward the seat.

Combined guide and wear plates ID are secured to the inner side faces ofthe rails l, for example by means of screws ll. As depicted in Figs. 1and 3, the lower side edges of the plates 19 aline or register with theupper side walls of the grooves 8, or otherwise stated, register withthe side walls of the grooves adjacent the seat. The plates l0 arelikewise formed with right angular recesses l2, adjacent their endparts, which register with the right angular end portions 9 of thegrooves 8.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 it will be seen that a rod I3 isdisposed transversely beneath the: seat and has rollers l4 mounted onits ends which are receivable in the grooves 8 and the recesses 9 andI2, the rollers engaging against the undersides of the plates l9. Shortbraces l5 are pivoted at H5 at their outer ends to the front legs 5 andat their inner ends pivoted to the rod l3. Rear braces I! are pivoted atI8 1936, Serial No. 80,459

to the rear legs 2 and have their inner ends offset and pivoted to therod I3. For the purpose of holding the braces l5 and I! against movementinwardly of the rod 43, means, for example, the sleeve I9 is mounted onthe rod l3 and has its ends abutting the braces ll. It will be notedthat the rollers H! are disposed closely adjacent to the braces l5, sothat same as well as the braces l! are held against movementlongitudinally and outwardly of the rod it. Referring now to Fig. 1 itwill be seen that when the chair is in operative position the rollers Mare engaged in the front recesses ll. of the plate it, which recessesconstitute keepers for the rollers, and in such position of the parts itwill be apparent that the chair is elfectively and rigidly held inoperative position. In order to fold the chair it is merely necessary tograsp the back I in one hand and then move the seat 3 with the otherhand upwardly toward the back, whereupon the two rollers M will rideagainst the lower side edges of the plates in until they reach theregistering recesses 9 and l2, whereupon the rollers will enter thelatter as shown in Fig. 5 thus positively holding the chair in foldedposition and against accidental opening. The plates I 0 function toprovide an edge against which the rollers ride, thereby preventing wearon the walls of the recesses i5, and further act to assume all strainsand stresses to which the rollers I 4 may be subjected due to the weightof the occupant of the chair. By virtue of the grooves 8 being formed inthe depending portions l at the sides of the seat it will be seen that agreater bearing is afforded for the rollers 14, thus adding to thestability of the chair when in operative position. The plates, inaddition, act to reinforce and strengthen the side rails l of the seatand still further act as abutments against which the braces l5 mayengage to thus prevent the latter from engaging and consequently wearingaway the Wood or other non-metallic material of which the dependingmembers i are generally formed. It is particularly to be noted that theinstant invention involves a minimum of parts that are compactlyassembled, and can be easily oper ated, and by virtue of the location ofthe braces l5 and I7 closely adjacent to the front and rear legs a morestabilized structure is provided and one which maintains the chair at amaximum of rigidity when in its operative position.

Obviously, the rollers may be dispensed with, if desired, but arepreferably used to constitute a part of the rod I3 in order tofacilitate sliding movement of the latter.

What is claimed is:

In a folding chair or like device, a back having legs, a seat pivoted tothe back and having depending members at its sides, each formed with alongitudinal groove having substantially right angular end parts, whichlatter extend toward the seat, front legs pivoted to the members, a rodextending transversely of the seat and having rollersonv its ends slidable in the grooves and receivable in the end parts. of the latter, aguide plate secured on the inside of each of the depending members. andhaving downwardly opening recesses forming keepers to receive therollers at the ends of the rod, which recesses register with the saidend parts of the grooves, said guide plate further having a side edgewhich registers with the side wall of the groove adjacent the seat, andagainst which edge the rollers engage, a pair of braces at each end ofthe rod having inner ends pivoted to the rod and having outer endspivoted to the rear and front legs respectively, and a sleeve on'the rodhaving ends which engage the inner ends of the adjacent braces and whichhold the said inner ends of the adjacent braces against the inner endsof the otherbraces thereby to hold the latter against the plates and toprevent sliding of the rollers on the rod.

JOHN J. CROFT.

